Trimming-tool.



C. T. BIDGELY. TRIMMING TOOL. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1912.

1 l%6,@23 Patented July 13, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0,.WASHINGTON. n. c.

GI-IARLEST. RIDGELY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

TRIMMINGr-TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July is, rare.

Application filed October 18, 1912. Serial No. 726,450.

. ence being had therein to the accompanying drawing. 7

This invention relates to trimming tools, and, although the invention is primarily intended for use in trimming 'or resharpening fiber needles, such as are used in connection with talkingmachines, it can be obviously employed for trimming or cutting other suitable stocks. The points of these fiber needles wear fro-muse and become blunt so that they do not render proper service and in the absence of a' properly designed implement for trimming or resharpening the same they become useless in a comparatively short time. By the use of a proper implement they can be resharpened and used over and over again, thus greatly reducing the cost of keeping the machine supplied with needles.

needles owing to the difliculty of cutting or trimming a thin shaving from the edge of the pointed needle and maintaining the proper bevel on the pointed portion of the needle. 1

The principal object of my invention is therefore to provide a device by means of which fiber needles can be accurately trimmed and retrimmed so as to render the needles ready for further use.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a rotatable block of softer metal than the cuttenfor supporting the needle in operative relation to'the cutter, whereby the latter will pass through the needle and slightly into the block, thereby providing ameans for cleanly severing the ends of the needles and consequently preventing the edges of said needles from being feathered or split and rendered impracticable for further use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of novel construction for retaining the needle in operative relation to the cutter, and to adjustably mount this means so that the needles may be trimmed at different angles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool for the purpose described Much diiiiculty has been experienced,however, in properly sharpening these which includes a pair of operating elements that are relatively movable toward each other and which are yieldably held in spaced relation by a spring of novel construction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of trimming tool'constructed in accordance with my invention, parts thereof being shown in section; Fig. 2 is atransverse, sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig.1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the needle holder.

Referring to the drawings the invention comprises a pair of operating elements which are relatively movable toward each other and, in thepresent embodiment of the invention, there is shown a pair of upper and lower jaws 5 and 6 which are pivoted to each other at one end, as at 7 One of the jaws preferably the lower jaw, is laterally enlarged adjacent the pivot, as shown by the reference numeral 8, and this enlargement has its inner face recessed to form a seat 9. A circular block'lO of soft metal is disposed within the seat and is rotatably mounted upon a stud 11 which projects inwardly from said-seat.

Extending inwardly from the upper jaw 5 toward the block 10 is an ear 12 which is split longitudinally to receive a cutting element or blade 13. This blade is adjustably held in any position by means of a set screw 14 or other suitable means.

In order to point and also bevel the end of a needle or-other stock, the needle and the cutting element must be set at an obtuse angle, and, in this instance, to accomplish this end the cutting element is arranged longitudinally of its supporting jaw and in the plane of movement of said jaw,while the seat 9 which receives the block 10, together with the inner faceof the enlargement 8, are disposed in parallel planes at an obtuse angle to the plane of movement of said jaws.

The invention further comprises a means of novel construction for resiliently holding a needle to be trimmed in operative relation to the cutter, and provides said holding means with a part adapted to be engaged by the hand to raise the means a slight dis tance, sufiicient to admit or release'a needle, as the case maybe. To this end, there is provided a 'plate 15 which is'formed from resilient metal. The body portion of this plate is preferably semicircular in contour and extending laterally from one side of the lit center of the chord thereof is an inverted and substantially V-shaped lip 16 of a size to receive a fiberneedle 17. or other, suitable stock which is to be trimmed. Formed in the body portion 15 contiguous to the inner end of the lip is an inwardly extending slot 18 for receiving the cutting blade 13. Extending from the body portion on the side of the slot 18 opposite the lip l6is a resilient finger 19, this finger intersecting the longitudinal axis of the lip and being twisted to form a stop to limit the movement in one direction of the needle 17. It will, of course, be understood that while the stop is shown as being an integral part of the plate it mayv be formed separately and fixed to the lower jaw. Itwill thus be observed that the end of the needle, which is to be trimmed is dis- PQ$6 K3 h l t p p r t ry t being acted upon by the cutting element. The plate 15 is positioned upon the enlargement 8 in such a manner that the lip 16, slot. 18 andfinger 19extend above and are arranged; close tothe block 10, and this plate is pivotally mounted, for laterally swinging move; ments upon said enlargement, by. means of. a pin 20. The swinging: movements of this plate, however, are limited through the instrumentality of a set screw 21 or the like which: passes through an opening 22 formed in said plate into a suitable opening formed in thexenla'rgement 8, said opening 22 havinga diameterlarger than the shankof; the

screw; It will thusbe observed that by shifting the plate in either direction with respect to the cutting element, the needle which, is carried by the' platfe can be posi- 1 tioned at difierent angles: with respect to said cutter so that the needles can be trimmed to form points of different angles as maybe found best to suit various condition's. Asfthe operating elements are drawn together the cutter trims the needle and the cutting edge of said cutter passes slightly into the block 10 which'is," as above noted, ofssoft metal. As a result a clear cut is given to the needle and, consequently, 'allpossibility of the needles becoming featheredor split is prevented. By rotatably mountingthe block 10, different portions of.

said" block may. be moved. under the needle carrying plate or holder. This prevents the.

cutter from forming a single groove in the block. It is to benoted that because of the finger 19 beingresilient, saidfinger will yieldwhen the cutting blade is 'operatively positioned betweenthe body of the needle and the end which is being severed, thus. preventing the possibility oifsplitting the point of the'needle. V

In order to raise the plate 15 a distance sufficient to freely admit or to release a needle, the plate "is formed at one edge with a part M -constituting a thumb piece. The interior cross-sectional area of the lip 16. isv

-means of the thumb piece 15 less than that of a needle, so that when a needle is disposed within the lip, it will be held against movement upon the block 10 by the resiliency of the plate. The operator, to insert a needle, raises the plate 15 by a distance to freely admit the needle. The tool is partially turned on one side so that the needle will slide'by gravity against the stop 19. The thumb piece 15 is then released and the lip 1b will retain the needle against move nient. on the block. After the needle has been trimmed, the tool is partially turned on its sidejbut direction opposite to that abovedescribed, and the lip 16 again raised, thereby releasing the needle and permitting it tofbe discharged by gravity.

4 The blade 13 is formed with a cutting edge having a length considerably longer than width of a needle, so that by means of, the set screw 14;, the blade can be adji lsted; lpngitudinally of the upper jaw to permit ofthe entire cutting edge being used before it becomes necessary to either renew theblade or resharpen the same.

In, order to yieldably retain the operating elements. normally in spaced relation and also to, permit of said elements being moved apart to permit of access to the operating elements ot the tool, there is provided a yieldable element which is disposed between and connected to the jaws 5 and 6. The yieldable, element in this instance consists of a substantially V-shaped spring 23 which is preferably formed from spring wire and is formed at its apex or center with a: coil 2- The end of. one arm of this spring is detaehabl-y mounted in a longitudinal seat 25 which: is formed in the lower jaw 6, while the end of; the other arm of this spring is bent outwardly to form a foot 26 which is detachably seated in a transverse seat 27 formed in the upper jaw 5. It will be observed: that the spring 23 retains the jaws 5and6yieldab1y apart so that the cutter 12 is disposed in spaced relation to the lip 16. This permits. a needle to be readily inserted; within the lip so as to be trimmed by the cutter 12 upon compression of the operating elements against the tension of the spring" 23. YVhen it is desired to swing the upper jaw 5; upon the pivot 7 so as to inspect the, cutting element 12 or the plate 15, 'the foot 26dof: the spring 23 is disengaged from its. seat 27-, asvw'ill be readily understood.

In order to tssist in compressing the jaws 5 and 6 by hand, the upper jaw 5 is formed witlra thumb rest 28, and; the lower jaw 6 is formed at its free end with a depending fingerring 29.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of: illustration only and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, of a cutter carried by said movable element, a disk-like block rotatably mounted on the other element on an axis extending at an inclination to the plane of movement of said cutter, and a clamping device su pported independently of said cutting block and arranged to hold the stock to be cut on said cutting block at a predetermined angle to the line of contact between said cutter and said cutting block.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, of a cutter carried by said movable element, a cutting block carried by the other element and adjustable to bring diiierent portions thereof into the path of said cutter, a resilient plate mounted on said other element and having a portion extending above said cutting block, shaped to correspond substantially to the shape of the stock to be cut and arranged to eXert a pressure upon said stock to retain the same in proper position upon said block.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, a cutter carried by said movable element and a cutting block carried by the other element of a clamping plate having a portion arranged to engage the stock to be cut and retain the same in proper position on said cutting block, said plate having a part arranged adjacent to and spaced away from the stock engaging portion of said plate and forming a stop to engage the end of the stock which is to be cut.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, a cutter carried by said movable element and a cutting block carried by the other element, of a clamping plate having a portion arranged to engage the stock to be cut and retain the same in proper position on said cutting block, and a resilient finger arranged on that side of the path of said cutter opposite the stock engaging portion of said plate, to form a stop to limit the lengthwise movement of the stock and adapted to yield during the cutting operation.

In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, a cutter carried by said movable element and a cutting block carried by the other element, of a clamping plate having a portion arranged to engage the stock to be cut and retain the same in proper position on said cutting block, a finger connected with said plate, said plate and said finger being simultaneously adjustable, whereby the clamping plate may be adjusted to alter the position of the stock without changing the relative positions of the finger and the plate. 7

6, In a device of the characterdescribed,

the combination, with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, of a cutter carried by said movable element, a cutting block carried by the other element and adjustable to bring different portions thereof into the path of said cutter, a resilient plate mounted on said other element and having a portion extending above said cutting block, shaped to correspond substantially to the shape of the stock to be cut and arranged to exert a pressure upon said stock to retain the same in proper position upon said block, said plate having a part arranged adjacent to but spaced away from the stock-engaging portion of said plate and forming a stop to engage the end of the stock which is to be out.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, of a cutter carried by said movable element, a cutting block carried by the other element and adjustable to bring different portions thereof into the path of said cutter, a resilient plate mounted on said other element and having a portion extending above said cutting block, shaped to correspond substantially to the shape of the stock to be cut and arranged to exert a pressure upon said stock to retain the same in proper position upon said block, said plate having a resilient finger projecting over said block and arranged adjacent to but spaced away from the stock engaging portion of said plate, said resilient finger being adapted to limit the movement of the stock when the same is being placed in position to be cut and to yield during the cutting operation.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, of a cutter carried by said movable element, a cutting block carried by the other element, and a yieldable clamping device mounted adjacent to said cutting block and having a guideway to receive the stock and hold the same in engagement with said block, said clamping device and said guideway being adjustable relative to said cutter.

9. In a device of the character described,

the combination, with, apair of operating elements, one of which is, movable toward and away from the. other, of a cutter carried by said movablev element, a cutting block carried by the otherelement and adjustable tobring difierent portions thereof into the path of said cutter, and a resilient plate mounted on said. other element and provided. with a guideway to receive the stock and hold the same in engagement with said block, said guideway being ad.- justable to vary the position in which said stock is held with relation to said cutter.

10. In a device of the character described, the combinationv with a pair of operating elements, one of which is movable toward and away from the other, o1": a cutter car ried. by said movable element, a cutting.

block carried bythe'other element and ad} justable to bring different portions thereof into the path of said cutter, and a resilient plate mounted on saidother element; and provided with a guideway: to receive the, stock and hold. the same in engagement with said block, said plate having a finger piece by means of which the pressure on said stock may be relieved.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a pair of jaws pivotally connected and each havinga handgrip, and a spring tending normally to separate said jaws, of an elon ated blade carried by one of said jaws an adjustable longitudinally thereof, a. cutting block mounted on the other of said jaws and adjustable Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for to bring different portions thereof into the path of said blade, said block being arranged at an acute angle to the plane in which said blade moves, and a resilient clamping device carried by that jaw on which the block is mounted, extending over the block and having a recessed portion arranged to'engage the stock to be cut, and manually operated means for actuating said device tov relieve the pressure on said work.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a pair of jaws pivotally connected and each having a hand grip, and a spring tending normally to separate said jaws, of an elongated blade carried by one of said jaws and adjustable longitudinally thereof, a cutting block mounted on the other of said jaws and adjustable to bring different portions thereof into the five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

